Handlamp switch



Nov. A27, 1923.

F. L. HUMESTON HANDLAMP SWITCH Filed March 16. 1925 I NVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

UNI-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK L. HUMESTON, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, 0F NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

HANDLAMP SWITCH.

Application' led March 16 1923. Serial No. 625,446.

To all 'whom ma/y concern:

Be it known that I FREDERICK L. HUMEs- ToN, a citizen of the at 25 Brewster Street, New Haven, in the county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Handlamp Switches; and I do hereby declare the fol owing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to portable hand lamps of the type wherein a ba-ttery and incandescent lamp are housed within a casing and are provided with contact means mounted on the casing by which the flow of current from the battery through the lamp may be controlled.

One object of this invention is to provide a simple arrangement of easily manufactured parts, the arrangement being such that the lamp may be flashed at will by thumb pressure on a push button, or, if desired, it may be lighted continuously without the need for continued pressure on the push button. The. preferred embodiment shown in the drawing includes a slidable housing, a push button and improved means whereby the housing may be locked with the switch contacts in open circuit position. The push button may be actuated as desired, and continuous lighting of the lamp may be accomplished by sliding the housing on its support.

One important feature of the invention lies in the provision of simple means whereby the above mentioned operations may be performed, the arrangement of the means being such that a push button and slidable housing of ordinary construction may be em loyed. The improved switch includes a sli e which encircles the push button and is carried by the slidable housing, this slide being adapted to hold the switchl contacts in closed circuit position, and to lockthe housing when these contacts are in open circuit position.

Other objects and advantages of thls invention will be apparent from the following United sims, residing description which is to be considered in cnjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

F 1 is a sectional elevation of a hand lamp equipped with the improved contact device.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the contact device.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the contact device taken on line 3 3 o Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2, showing the details of construction.

Figs. 5 and 6 are longitudinal sections taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing t0- gether with Fig. 3, the several positions of theswitch elements.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the escutcheon plate.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the spring contact member of the switch, and

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the slide, carried by the slidable housing of the switch.

Fig. 10 is a detail of the push button and its retaining washer.

In the hand lamp of Fig. 1, a dry battery 1 is placed with its upper carbon elect-rode 2 making electrical contact with the inner terminal of an incandescent lamp 3, and the naked zinc bottom of the lowermost cell making connection through a spring 4 with a metal cap 5 by which the lower end of the casing or tube 6 is closed. This tube may be of fiber equipped with the usual threaded collars 7 and 8 and a ring 9, by which the lens 10 and reflector 11 are clamped in position. The rim of reflector 11 is preferably spaced from collar 8 and ring 9 to prevent inadvertent lighting of the lamp when it is carried with metal tools. Electrically connected with the outer terminal of the incandescent lamp 3, as through reflector 11, is a metal strip 12, leading to one terminal of the switch gap of the Contact. device, and, similarly, a flat metal strip 13 is electrically connected to the bottom of the dry battery 1, as through cap 5 and spring 4, and has its upper end electrically connected to the other side of the switch gap.

The contact means whereby electrical connection is established between strips 12 and 13, preferably comprises a raised escutcheon plate 14, carrying a slidable housing 15, the chamber of the raised escutcheon enclosing the two elements of the switch gap and protecting them against accidental short circuiting. The strip 12 is provided with an upturned end 16, forming one contact of the switch, and the cscutcheon 14 has fixed thereto, as by the rivet 17, a spring contact member 18 which extends in close proximity to the contact 16 and is adapted to be flexed into closed circuit position by a nush button 19 of ordinary construction.

The raised portion of the escutcheon 14 is provided with an elongated opening adapted to receive the shank of the button 19 and to permit longitudinal movement of this button with respect to the hand lamp casing. The slidable housing 15 is provided with a central well or opening for the push button. This housing is also provided with a pair of tangs 2O which project down through the slots 21 (see Fig. 7), in the raised portion of the escutcheon. rIhese fangs 20 are bent over, as indicated in Fig. 4, and engage a slide 22. I prefer to provide a. notch in each side of this slide, especially adapted to be engaged by one of the fangs 20, whereby the slide and housing may be fastened together in a satisfactory manner. The slide is provided with a central circular opening adapted to receive the shank of the push button 19, and it is also provided with a slot 23 (see Fig. 9) adapted to receive an upward projecting lug 24 (see Fig. 3) struck from the spring contact member 18.

The push button 19 is provided with a washer 25 which prevents the button from being lifted out of place. This washer is ,v held in place on the. reduced lower portion of the shanlc of the button, by burrs 26 formed thereon, or in any other suitable manner. The lower extremity of the shank rests on the upper surface of the spring contact member 18.

When pressure is applied to the push button 19, the spring contact 18 is flexed into closed circ-uit position and the lug or projection 24 is withdrawn from the slot 23 in the slide 22. If the housing 15 is then moved longitudinally, the slide 22 is carried with it by virtue of the t-angs 2() projecting down through the narrow slots 21 in the escutchcon plate and engaging this slide.

When the slidable housing 15 is in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the lamp may be flashed as desired by simply applying pressure to the push button 19, the spring contact 18 being free to be flexedtat will into closed circuit position, by the action of the push button. lVhen pressure is not applied to the bush but-ton, the housing 15 is locked by virtue of the lug 24 projecting into the slot 28 in the slide 22. (See Fig. 3). In Fig. 5 the spring contact member 18 and push button 19 are in the position they assume when pressure is applied to the button.

lVhen continuous lighting of the lamp is desired, the spring member 18 is flexed into closed circuit position by applying pressure to the button 19, and the housing 15 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 6. As soon as the button 19 is )ressed down the housing 15 is unlocked and may readily be moved to the position shown in Fig. (5. In this position of the housing 15, 4the lamp remains lighted whether or not pressure is lapplied to the button 19, for the slide 22 engaging the top of the lug 24, is of sufficient thicliness to hold the member 18 in closed circuit position. The switch may be opened by merely sliding the housing 15 until the slot 23A registers with the lug 24. r lVhen this occurs the lug 24 will enter the slot 28, and the spring member 18 will return to its inoperative or open circuit position.

From the foregoing description, it should be apparent that the slide 22' is one of the most important elements of the invention. This slide, which may be of insulating material or of conducting material, as desired, is arranged below the raised portion of the escutcheon 14 and is carried by the slidable housing 15 in such a manner that it may hold the switch contact member 18 in closed circuit position when continuous lighting of the lamp is desired; and, when lighting is to be avoided, this plate serves to lock the housing 15 in the manner shown in Fig. 3.

All of the parts of this switch may be manufactured cheaply, for the push button is of ordinary construction, the slidable housing comprises a simple metal stamping, and the spring contact member 18 consists of a single strip of metal having an upward projecting lug 24 struck from the body portion thereof. The several parts may readily be assembled, it being merely necessary to secure the washer 25 in place on the push button 19, bend over the tangs 20 to engage the plate 2, and rivet the contact member 18 to the escutcheon 14.

It is to be understood that the size, proportions and arrangement of the various parts may be varied without departing from the invention, which is not confined to the particular embodiment shown and described, but includes such modifications thereof as fall within the scope of the appended claims. For instance, this improved switch may be used on a hand lamp having a metal casing, provided the strip 12 is insulated from the casing; a two part escutcheon may be employed; and various other details may be modified without departing from the principle of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a switch for hand lamps, a spring Contact member, a push button engaging the top of said member for flexing it into c osed circuit position, a slidable housing, and a slide carried by said housing and having means cooperatin with said contact member for locking said housing, said slide and contact member being arranged so that the housing may be released by flexing said member` by means of said push button.

2. In a switch for hand lamps, a spring contact member, a push button engagin the top of said member for flexing it into c osed circuit position, a slidable housing, and a slide separate from said housing, but carried thereby, said slide having means cooperatin with said contact member for locking sai housing, and for holding said member in closed circuit position when said housing is unlocked and displaced from its locked p0- sition.

3. In a switch for hand lamps, a spring contact member, a push button engaging the top of said member for flexing it into closed circuit position a slidable housing, and a slide carried by said housing and encircling said push button, said slide having means cooperating with said contact member for locking said housing, and for holding said member in closed circuit position when said housing is unlocked and displaced from its locked position.

4. In a switch for hand lamps, a spring contact member, a push button engagin the top of said member for flexing it into c osed circuit position, a slidable housing, and a slide separate from said housin but carried thereby and encircling said pus button, said contact member having a projection adapted to enter a slot in said slide to lock said housing, the contact member, slide, and push button being arranged so that the projection may be withdrawn from the slotl by applying pressure to the push button.

5. In a switch for hand lamps, a raised escutcheon, a spring contact member enclosed within said escutcheon, a push button projecting through the escutcheon and engaging the top of said contact member for flexing it into closed circuit position, a slidable housing, and a slide carried by said housing, said housing and'slide being arranged on opposite sides of the raised portion of said escutcheon, and said slide having means cooperating with said Contact member for locking said housing, and for holding said member in closed circuit position when said housing is unlocked and displaced from its locked position.

6. In a switch for hand lamps, a raised escutcheon, a slidable housing and a slide arranged on opposite sides of the raised portion of said escutcheon, the slide being carried by said housing, a sprin contact member, a push button having a s ank extendi through openings in the raised portion o tion of said escutcheon, the slide being carried by said housing, a sprin contact member, a usb button having a s ank extendin throug an elongated opening in the raise portion of the escutcheon and a round opening in the slide, into engagement with the top of said contact member, said contact member havin a projection adapted toenter a slot in sai slide to lock said housing, the contact member, slide, and ush button being arranged so that the projection may be- Withdrawn from the slot by applying pressure to the push button.

8. In a switch for hand lamps, a raised escutcheon, a slidable housing and a slide arranged on opposite sides of the raised portion of said escutcheon, a sprin contact member, a push buttonhaving a s ank extending through. an elongated opening in the raised portion of the escutcheon and a round opening in said slide, into engagement with the top of said contact member, said contact member having a projection adapted to enter a slot in said slide, said slide being carried by said housing and of suilicient thickness so that when the projection on said contact member does not register with the slot in the slide, said memberfishheld in closed circuit osition by virtue o t e projection en a 'n she body portion of the slide. g g1 .g

9. In a switch for hand lamps, a raised escutcheon, a spring contact member, a push button engaging the top of said member, a slidable housing having a air of tangs extending through said escutc eon, and a slide arranged below the raised portion of the escutcheon and having notches engaged by the tangs of said housing, said slide having means cooperating with said contact member for locking said housing, and for holding said member in closed circuit position when said housing is unlocked and displaced from its locked position.

10. In a switch for hand lamps, a raised escutcheon, a spring contact member riveted to said escutcheon and having an integral projection extending upward therefrom, a push button extending through an elongated opening in the. raised portion of said escutcheon and into engagement with the top of said contact member, a slidable housin having a pair of tangs extending downward through slots in said escutcheon, and a slide arranged below the raised portion of the iso escutcheon and encircling said push button, said slide having notches engaged by the tangs of said housing, and a slot adapted to receive the projection on said contact member to lock said housing with the switch contacts in open circuit position, said slide being of such a thickness that when the Contact member is flexed into closed circuit position by means of the push button the housing may be moved and the slide will maintain 10 the Contact member in closed circuit position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FREDERICK L. HUMESTON. 

